#georgianews | AM 1180 Radio

July 13, 2026

Chattooga County Coroner Warns Families About Funeral Home Impersonation Scam

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyCoronersOffice, #ChattoogaInfo, #CommunitySafety, #ConsumerAlert, #FraudPrevention, #FuneralScam, #georgianews, #GoreGA, #IdentityTheft, #ImpersonationScam, #JeremyMcElhaney, #LawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #ProtectYourInformation, #PublicSafety, #ScamAlert, #SublignaGA, #summervillega, #TelogaGA, #trionga, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Chattooga County Coroner’s Office is warning residents about a scam targeting grieving families following the death of a loved one.

In a public alert, Coroner Jeremy A. McElhaney said scammers are posing as funeral home employees after monitoring online obituaries. The scammers then contact family members and demand immediate payment, falsely claiming to represent the funeral home handling funeral arrangements.

McElhaney urged anyone receiving such a call not to provide any personal or financial information. Instead, he advises families to hang up and contact their funeral home directly using a trusted phone number to verify whether the call is legitimate.

“I personally know the owner/operators of all three Chattooga County funeral homes and can assure you that is not the way they conduct business,” McElhaney said.

Residents are encouraged to share the warning to help prevent others from becoming victims of the scam.

July 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

One Suspect In Custody, Two Sought Following Alleged Shoplifting At Trion Walmart

Local News, Local News Items #BreakingNews, #chattoogacounty, #chattoogacountysheriff, #ChattoogaInfo, #FridayJuly102026, #georgianews, #LawEnforcement, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #Shoplifting, #trionga, #Walmart, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Sample Image

One man is in custody and two others remain at large following an alleged shoplifting incident Friday at Walmart in Trion.

According to Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader, three men were stopped while leaving the store after they were believed to have stolen several iPads.

Authorities say the suspects fled the scene before Chattooga County Sheriff’s deputies arrived. Law enforcement was able to apprehend one of the three men, while the other two remained at large as of Friday night.

Sheriff Schrader said investigators believe the three men may also be connected to other shoplifting incidents in Michigan and in Dalton, Georgia.

The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information has not yet been released.

WZQZ will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

July 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Friday – July 10, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimeNews, #FridayJuly102026, #georgianews, #LawEnforcement, #northwestgeorgia, #police, #PublicSafety, #SheriffsOffice, #summervillega, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, July 10, 2026:

July 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Homer Man Indicted In Chattooga County Child Molestation Case

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountySuperiorCourt, #ChattoogaInfo, #ChildMolestationCase, #CourtNews, #CrimeNews, #georgianews, #GrandJury, #Indictment, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #summervillega, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A Homer man has been indicted by a Chattooga County Grand Jury on child molestation-related charges, according to court records.

Dennis Harley Taylor was charged with three counts of aggravated child molestation, three counts of child molestation, and one count of enticing a child for indecent purposes.

Investigators say the alleged offenses involved a young boy and occurred between September 8 and November 29, 2023. Taylor was arrested on March 29.

The case will proceed through Chattooga County Superior Court. As with all criminal cases, Taylor is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

July 8, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Publix Recalls Frozen Blueberries Sold in Georgia After E. coli Illnesses Reported

Local News, Local News Items #Blueberries, #ConsumerAlert, #EColi, #FoodRecall, #FoodSafety, #georgianews, #GreenWise, #HealthAlert, #July72026, #Publix, #Recall, #TuesdayJuly72026, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Publix customers in Georgia are being urged to check their freezers after the grocery chain recalled a specific lot of frozen blueberries linked to 12 confirmed cases of E. coli illness.

July 8, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Lottery Players Score Big Holiday Weekend Wins

Local News, Local News Items #EducationInGeorgia, #Fantasy5, #georgialottery, #georgianews, #HolidayWeekend, #July72026, #LotteryWinners, #MegaMillions, #MillionaireForLife, #Powerball, #TuesdayJuly72026, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Several Georgia Lottery players had a winning holiday weekend as jackpot games continued to climb across the state.

Monday’s Powerball jackpot rose to an estimated $416 million, while tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot is estimated at $576 million.

Among the weekend winners, a Stone Mountain player won $50,000 in the July 1 Powerball drawing, while a Brunswick player won $100,000 in the July 4 Powerball drawing after the Power Play multiplier doubled the prize.

An Albany player also hit a $290,307 Fantasy 5 jackpot on July 2 through the Georgia Lottery mobile app.

Other big wins included $250,000 for a Jasper player on a Diggi Game, $10,000 prizes in Kennesaw and Douglas, and two $7,500 Millionaire for Life prizes sold in Woodstock and Bonaire.

Georgia Lottery officials remind Mega Millions and Powerball winners they have 180 days from the drawing date to claim prizes. Proceeds from Georgia Lottery games benefit education across the state.

July 8, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Agriculture Officials Urge Vigilance for New World Screwworm Despite No Confirmed Cases in State

Local News, Local News Items #agriculture, #AnimalHealth, #Biosecurity, #Cattle, #Farmers, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfAgriculture, #georgianews, #HorseOwners, #July72026, #Livestock, #NewWorldScrewworm, #PetOwners, #TuesdayJuly72026, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is urging livestock producers, veterinarians and pet owners to remain alert for signs of the destructive New World Screwworm, even though no cases have been confirmed in Georgia.

July 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

ARC Report Shows Most Northwest Georgia Counties Hold Stable Economic Status

Local News, Local News Items #AppalachianRegionalCommission, #ARC, #CatoosaCounty, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CommunityDevelopment, #DadeCountyGA, #EconomicDevelopment, #floydcountyga, #georgianews, #GordonCountyGA, #northwestgeorgia, #WalkerCountyGA, #WhitfieldCounty, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A newly released report from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) shows that most counties across Northwest Georgia continue to maintain stable economic classifications, although a handful of counties remain among the region’s most economically challenged. The designations are used by ARC to help determine grant eligibility and investment priorities for economic and community development projects throughout Appalachia.

July 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Study Estimates Chattooga Residents Spent $114,000 on OnlyFans During 2025

Local News, Local News Items #BartowCountyGA, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #ConsumerSpending, #floydcountyga, #georgianews, #GordonCountyGA, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #OnlyFans, #PolkCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A new study estimates that residents of Chattooga County spent approximately $114,000 on OnlyFans subscriptions during 2025, making it one of five Northwest Georgia counties included in the analysis. The report was conducted by OnlyGuider, an independent search engine that indexes creators on the subscription-based platform.

July 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Atlanta Developer Files Lawsuit Over Chattooga County Project, Claims $89 Million Development Was Undermined by $1 Land Transfer

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #Development, #georgianews, #Lawsuit, #LittleSandMountain, #northwestgeorgia, #PropertyDispute, #RealEstate, #SuperiorCourt, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Courthouse

An Atlanta developer has filed a lawsuit in Chattooga County Superior Court alleging that an $89 million residential development on Little Sand Mountain was derailed after the 736-acre property at the center of the project was transferred to another nonprofit organization for $1 without his knowledge.